Mount Holyoke campus opens to admitted students for tours
College announces a virtual Commencement for the class of 2021
On March 22, graduating students and their families received an email informing them that the College would be holding a virtual Commencement ceremony for the class of 2021 on May 23 at 10:30 a.m. EDT. The email explained that while some celebrations and traditions would occur between May 12 and May 15 and would be open to students living on and off campus, no graduating students would be permitted to be on campus during the May 23 Commencement ceremony.
College announces fall opening plan, tuition increase
1 year later: Students take time off after campus closure
As March marked the anniversary of the College’s campus closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it served as a further reminder that many students have been learning remotely for a full year. Student enrollment decreased during the 2020-2021 academic year, indicating that a large number of Mount Holyoke students have opted to take time away from their studies, either for just one semester or the full year.
Mills College announces closure as a degree-granting institution
College will hold a virtual commencement for 2021 graduates
The College announced Monday that it will hold a virtual commencement ceremony for graduates of the class of 2021 on May 23 at 10:30 a.m. EST. In an email sent to graduating students and their families, Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Marcella Runell Hall wrote, “It is with great regret that we announce that no family, friends or other guests will be able to participate in any campus celebrations in advance of the virtual ceremony.”
For students of nontraditional age, remote learning presents new challenges
J.J. DiPietro left behind a different life when she chose to return to college as a nontraditionally aged student in 2018. She enrolled at Holyoke Community College for two years before moving to South Hadley, MA, and enrolling at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. For DiPietro, the switch to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic was a welcome change. Her two small dogs, privately-owned cleaning business and general responsibilities of being an adult in college all benefited from the extra time spent at home.
Virtual Community Ambassadors Aim to Promote Remote Community
In an effort to continue cultivating community within its remote student body, Mount Holyoke recently introduced Virtual Cohorts into the Residential Life virtual programming. Student participants applied to join one of the cohorts supervised by a virtual community ambassador. According to the job description, a VCA “is an essential member of the administrative staff of Residential Life and plays a critical role following the College’s shift to remote learning.”
Student Residential Staff Share Their Experiences in Pandemic Campus Life
Last fall, Residential Life adapted its student staff to fit the new pandemic setting of both Mount Holyoke’s remote and in-person communities. Employees, formerly senior community advisors and community advisors, are now known as resident fellows and community assistants. This change came with an adaptation in responsibility for ResLife employees. RFs and community assistants are now responsible for both cultivating community and enforcing the student compact, both integral to the success of Mount Holyoke’s COVID-19 reopening plan.